(University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science) In the journal Marine Biology, lead author Dr. Evan D’Alessandro and University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science colleagues Drs. Su Sponaugle, Joel Llopiz and Robert Cowen shed light on the larval stage of this ocean predator, as well as several other closely related species.

(Joslin Diabetes Center) In a paper published today in Diabetologia, a team at Joslin Diabetes Center, headed by Mary R. Loeken, PhD, has identified the enzyme AMP kinase as key to the molecular mechanism that significantly increases the risk of neural tube defects such as spina bifida and some heart defects among babies born to women with diabetes.

The ability for some animals to have live births versus eggs can normally be explained by what classification the animal belongs to.

Mammals have live births, birds have eggs, Echidnas (a relative of mammals, think platypus) have eggs (like birds) but also have some characteristics only seen in mammals (fur and milk for their young).

There are some classification of animals that can have either live birth or eggs, such as sharks, fish and some reptiles.

The difference between the whether there are live births versus eggs is usually determined by the environment.